Lifting mechanism for valve springs



Oct. 19 1926 L. M, Woon LIFTING MECHANISM FOR VALVE SPRINGS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5. 1924 y INVENTOR Lows W00@ BY oct, 19 ,11926. 1,603,733

L. M. WOOD LIFTING MECHANISM FOR VALVE SPRINGS Filed Jan. 5. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 14 4f?- F ,5, I'. I\ v 5@ slm wg; J0 ff 5% m 1 g t?? 17 gg a9 Oct. 19 1926o L. M.- WOOD LIFTING MECHANISM FDR VALVE SPRINGS Filed Jan. 5. 1924 3 'Sheets-Sheet '5 INVISLNTOR Louis MfWoool.

BY W AT1" NIEYS Patentes ea.. 19, isza i 593,733

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS MARCELLUS WOOD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG'NOR 'IO SPEED-O MULTIPLE VALVE LIFIER CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LIFTING MECHANISM FOR VALVE SPRINGS.

Application led January 5, 1924. Serial No. 684,485.

This invention relates to lifting mechavention is not limited to the details of connism for the valve springs of an internal struction and arrangement of parts which combustion engine, an object of the invenare illustrated in the accompanying drawtion being to provide an improved mechaings, since the invention is capable of other nism for elevating` and maintaining a pluembodiments, and that the phraseology 60 rality of valve springs under tension so that lwhich I employ is for the purpose of dethe several valves may be removed for the scription and not of limitation. purpose of grinding the same, and wherein The present improved valve spring liftthe lifting mechanism is so constructed as to ing mechanism is adapted to be used in adapt it particularly for the purpose of connection with various types of engines, 6

operating against high compression valve and although one form of engine is herein springs without requiring the use of any illustrated by way of example, it will of considerable amount of strength in manipcourse be understood that the mechanism ulating or operating the mechanism. may be employed with engines having dif- A further object of this invention is to ferent numbers of cylinders. It will also be 70 provide an improved valve spring lifting understood that the form and design of the mechanism which will be relatively simple mechanism may be altered in order to adapt and compact in construction, easy to operate, the mechanism to various types of engines relatively cheap to manufacture, and wherehaving different forms and arrangement of in the lifting member of the mechanism is parts. 'Z5 controlled by cam means adapted to be oper-r In the drawings I have illustrated a presated in a step by step manner. ent preferred form of my invention, and as A further object of this invention is to shown the engine block is provided with provide a valve spring lifter having a liftthe usual valve spring chamber 9 which is ing member and cam means vfor elevating located within a housing or casing compris- *i0 the same against a plurality of valve ing rear cylinder walls 10 and forwardly springs, and wherein clutch means is proextending end walls 11. The several Yvalves vided for the purpose of controlling the 14 are provided with stems 15 which extend cam means during operation. into the chamber 9 and adjacent to the lower :i0 Other objects of this invention will appear ends of the valve stems are located remova- 5"* in the following description and appended ble pins 16 against which the valve spring claims, .reference being had to the accomretainers 17 rest when the valve springs are. panying drawings forming a part of this in normal position. The valve spring respecification wherein like reference Charactainers 17 are constructed to receive the :i5 ters indicate corresponding parts in the sevlower ends of valve springs 18 which are 90 eral views and wherein Fig. 1 is a front, held between the retainers and the upper elevation illustrating an embodiment of my part of the chamber 9. invention in partially elevated position The valve spring lifter in the present inagainst the valve springs; Fig. 2 is a secstance preferably comprises an angle bar tional plan view of the construction shown which maybe readily formed from a single 95 in 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken casting, this bar comprising` a vertically exsubstantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. t tending member 21 adapted to extend longiis a similar view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. tudinally in front of the valve springs, and 1; Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on line 5 5 a horizontally extending member 22 which of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a rear view of an emforms a means adapted to extend beneath l0" bodiment of my invention; Fig. 7 is a fragthe valve springs and retainers and operate mentary front view thereof; Fig. S is a thereagainst for the purpose of elevating the vertical section taken substantially on line spring under tension. The horizontal inem- 8-8 of Fig. G; Fig. 9 .is a detailview illusber 22 is provided with a series of slots or trating a part of the clutch niechanisin, and recesses '23, four being shown by way of eX- W5 Fig. 10 is a view illustrating the several ample in the present instance, which recesses clutch disks for the clutch mechanism. are adapted to receive the valve stems and Before explaining in detail the pre. permit the retainers 17 to be seated on the iinilorevement and mede of operation thereof, member 22. Aditi-cent to the opposite end .i 1 s. L i 4i@ .5. desire te have it understood. that the inf recesses 2 portions 24a et the 'hcrizontal member extend forwardly a sufficient distance so as to engage the curve-d upright walls la of the cylinder casing and assist A in guiding` the lifting `member in a vertical The projecting guide portions 24 26 and 27, and itl will be seen that when the present lifting member is in operatlveposition with respect toy four of the valve springs of the engine, one of the guide portions, as guide portion 2:6, will overlap the forward edge of a wall ll of the valve spring chamber. Thus, where the valve lifter is utilized in connection with an engine of the type indicated, the lifting member will be guided at three points on the engine.

The lifting member 2l, 22- is operated in the present instance by means of a` cam which is controlled at different stages in its operation by means of clutch or gripping mechanism, the latter functioningi to releasably lock or hold the cam in position at various stages or steps in its operation. The cam means of the present device comprises a suitable support or cam block 29 which is slotted transversely at the top thereof to receive and'provide a bearing fora rotatable spindle 28. The cam bl ck 29 is recessed at 29a to provide a suitable space for a caml which is fixed to the spindle 28. The cam 30 is preferably grooved at 8l centrallyl thereof so as to provide a pair of relatively narrow working` faces at opposite sides ofv the groove, the purpose of the groove 8l being to separate the cam into a pair of working faces which can be more readily ground to engage uniformly the bottom surface of member 22.

At its outer end the cam supporting;V spindle 28 is provided with a suitable wrench receiving portion 32, and by inserting the wrench 83 over part 32, it will be seen that the cam spindle 28 may be turned or rotated for the purpose of swinging the cam 80.

The cam block 29 midway of the front face vthereof is provided with a projection or lug and upon the spindle 28 and located aejainstthe front face of the cam block is fixedly mounted a stop member 35. This member is, in the present instance, in the form of a disk having'a projection 36 extending' from the periphery thereof. rlChis projection 36 is of sufficient length so that one edge thereof will engage the lug 34 as shown in Fig. 7 when the cam 39 has in Fig. l when the cam is in its lowest position.

The cam mechanism for elevating the lifting member is provided with clutch or gri pping means effective during the operation otl the cam 80 to lock or hold it in different positions during the movement thereof while raising or lowering the lifting member. ln the present instance, this clutch or gripping means comprises a` series of four disks 39, 49, Ll, and 42, which are of the same diameter and mounted upon the cam spindle 28. Disks 39 and 40, constitute one clutch member, fixed against rotation, and disks 4l and 42 constitute the other clutch member adapt ed to be rotated relatively to the other disks.

Referring to Fig.` l0 it will be seen that the clutch disk 39 is provided with a central annular hole 43 and a series of in-pressed projections 44, six being provided in the present instance. Disk is similarly provided with an annular hole 45 and correspending` projections 46.` rhe disks 39 and 40 are placed together over the spindle 28 and against the rear face of cam block 29 with the projections 44 fitting into the recesses formed by projections 46, as shown in Fig. 8. The disks 39 and 40 are tixedly secured togetherand also to the cam block 29 so as to permit the spindle 28 to rotate within the alined holes 43 and 45. Clutch disk 4l is provided centrally thereof with an elongated hole 47 and a series of in-pressed projections 48 forming depressions corresponding in number and location to the projections 44 and 46, and in like manner the clutch disk 42 is provided with an elongated hole 49. Disk 42 is also formed with ar series of holes 50 into which the projections 48 fit, as shown in Fig. 8. rlhe cam spindle 28 at opposite sides thereof is flattened or slabbed-off at 51 and it will be seen that when the disks 4lv and 42 are fitted over the slabbed-off portion of spindle 28, the disks 4l and 42 will be connected to the cani spindle 28 so as to rotate therewith. A coiled spring 52 is inserted over the end of spindle 28 and is held under compression between a removable pin extending` through a hole in the outer end of the spindle and the clutch disk 42.

rlhe liftingv member 2l, 22, is connected to the cam block by means of a. pair of guide pins or bolts which are effective to maintain the lifting member and cam in proper relative position at all times and also to assist in guiding the lifting member during` the operation thereof. Y

It will be noted that in the present instance where the lifting member operates simultaneously, against four valve sj'irinas, the cam 39 is located so as to operate suhstantially midway of the lifting` member. The bar 2l substantially midway thereof is ica titi

larged portion 54' which is tapped at opposite sides thereof to provide threaded holes 54. A pair of guide bolts 55 are screwed in inverted position into the holes 54. These bolts 55 extend freely through alined holes in the cam block 29, which holes are counterbored at 57 to receive the heads 56 of the bolts. By means of the bolts 55 it will be seen that the lifting member and cam block are interlocked, but the parts may be de tached by inserting a screw driver in the hole 57 and unscrewing the bolt from the lifting member. The holes 57 are bored to a sufficient depth to cause the heads 56 of the bolts to engage shoulders formed by the counter-bores 57 when the cam is at its position of maximum elevation.

It will be noted that the guide bolts or pins 55 function to guide thelifting member positively in a vertical plane against oscillating movement, which might be otherwise caused by a slight difference in pressure exerted by any of the springs and also by the fact that the cam 30 will not contact at all times with the lifting member at the exact center thereof.

In the operation of the present lifting mechanism the device is placed in position so that the horizontal member 22 will extend beneath a series of four valve springs, the valve stems passing into the recesses 23 and permitting the valve spring retainers 17 to be seated around the sides of the recesses. The guide portions 24 and 25 of the lifting member will abut against the cylinder walls a and one of the guide members as 26, will overlap an end wall of the casing. The wrench 33 is applied to the part 32 and by swinging the handle of the wrench in the direction of the arrow `in Fig. 1, cam will be turned or swung so as to engage the underside of the horizontal member 22.,

This cam is located in the vertical plane extending centrally through the series of springs so that in operation the lifting inemagainst any tendency to move inwardlyv relatively to the springs; i,

The operation of the clutch or gripping means will be readily understood. In the present instance the ncam 30 may be locked by means of the clutch in five different positions of elevation, three main positions being shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 and also in Fig. 1. TWhen the cam spindle 28 is rotated disks 41 and 42 will rotate therewith relatively to disks 39 and 40, and hence projections 46 will be forced out of the depressions 48 thereby forcing disks 41 and 42y against spring 52 and increasingly placing it under compression. As the spindle 28 and disks 4.1 and 42 are further rotated the depressions 48 will be shifted so as to register with a different set of projections 46, and the pressure of spring 52 will force projections 46 into depressions 48, thus clutching disks and 41 together and locking the cam 30 in partially elevated position. '.he second clutched step in the elevation of the lifting member is shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 4. When the lifting member is fully elevated as shown especially in Figs. 5 and 6, the stop 36 will engage lug 34 as shown in Fig. 7 and in dotted lines in Fig. 1. At this point a series of projections 46 of clutch disk 40 will be lodged in a series of depressions 48 in clutch disk 41 so `that the cam will be releasably locked and held with the lifting member in full elevated position and the valve springs under compression. After the valves 14 have been removed and ground they are inserted in position again, whereupon by means of the wrench 33 the cam spindle 28 and cam 30 will be rotated in the reverse direction. As in the case of elevating the lifting member the clutch will operate to cause the lifting member to be lowered in a step by step manner, or in successive stages and at each stage the clutchwill operate to releasably lock the cam.

ln the present construction it will be par ticularly noted that the full throw of the cam and the entire lifting operation is obtained by less than a complete turn of the cam spindle, and where the pressure of the springs is very great in certain types of engines, the lifting and lowering operations are very advantageously facilitated by dividing the full throw of the cam into a series of steps at each of which the cam is locked in position against any tendency to reverse under the pressure of the springs. The clutch or r)ripping mechanism not only locks the cam and holds the lifting member in full elevated position but also at different stages between high and low positions. This mechanism is especially effective when lowering the lifting member under the pres sure of the springs and prevents any danger of the operator inadvertently allowing the lifting member to descend suddenly and bring down the retainers 17 with force against the pins 16 and bend or shear them 0H'. or otherwise damage the structure,

Also in types of engines where the valve stems are provided with segmental retain ing keys instead of the pins 16, the gradual or step by step lowering of the cam will therefore facilitate the proper seating of the spring retainers on the retaining keys and minimize any tendency of the parts to iam or prevent the complete lowering of the springs in the event the retaining keys Vare accidently dislodged from the valve stems. V

It 1s to be understood that by describing in detail herein any particular form, structure' or arrangement, it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims or the requirements of the` prior art.

Having thus 4evplained the nature of my said invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, although With- .out attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the modes of its use, Ijclaim:

l. In a valve spring lifter, the combinaj tion of aA member adapted to shift the valve plurality of valve springs for compressing the same, means foroperating said means, a

pair of' friction clutch members for con trolling said operating means, and spring means for normally maintaining said clutch members in engagement.

3. In a valve spring lifter, the combination of a lifting member, a cam support, a cam carried thereby for operating said lift- `ing member, and cooperating clutch means arried by said cam support Yand cam.

4. In a valve spring lifter, the combination of a lifting member having means foi operating against a plurality of valve springs, means for elevating said liftingy member, and spring controlled gripping means for controlling said last means.

In a valve spring lifter, the combination of a lifting membeigineans for operating said lifting member, and Cooperating clutch means for maintaining said lifting member in lifted position against the action of the valve springs and automatically releasable in either direction by shifting said operating means in either direction.

6. In a valve spring lifter, the combinam tion of a lifting member, means located beneath said member and shiftable for elevating the same', and a pair of cooperating lclutch members for controlling said means.

7. In a valve spring lifter, the combination of a lifting member comprising an anp gle bar having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. sliiftable cani means located beneath said angle bar and shi't'table `into engagement with saidhorizontal portion for elevating the lifting men'iber, means for operating said cam, and'friction al clutch 'nieans for Areleasably locking said cam in successive positionsof elevation.

8.' The combination of a valve spring compressing member, a cam support, a rotatable spindle carried by said support, a camv carried by said spindle for shifting said nember, and clutch means carried by said inname spindle for maintaining said cam in operative position.

9. The combination of a valve spring compressing iiiember, a cam support adapted to be supported beneath the valve springs, a rotatable spindle carried by said support and having a vfrench receiving part, a cam carriedwby said spindle for shifting said meinbei', and clutch means mounted on said spindle for maintaining said cam in operative position,

10. In a vvalve spring lifter, the combination of a lifting member, a supporting niember adaptedto be supported on the engine beneath the lifting member, a rotatable spindle carried by said supporting member and having a Wrench receiving part, a cam carried by said spindle, and a rotatable clutch member mounted on said spindle at one side of said cam.

ll. The combination of a valve spring lifting member, a cam support having a recess, `a cam spindle journaled in said recess, a cani carried by said spindle, said support haif'ing a second recess extendingy transversely of said irst recess and communicating therewith, and said cam .being s hiftable into said second recess at opposite sides of said first recess.

l2. The combination of a valve spring f tion of a lifting member, cain ineansfor, op-

erating the same, means .connecting `said lifting member and cam means for guiding the lifting member against oscillatory movenient, 4and a pair of relatively shiftable fric-tional clutch members for maintaining said cam in shifted position against .the action of the valve springs and autouiatii'rally releasable in either direction by shifting the cam in. either direction.

l-l. In a valve springlifter, the combination of a lifting member, and means for operating the same, said lifting member liaving means including inwardly extending projectionsforming a three-point guide on the engine and means forming a two-point guide between said lifting member and said operating means.

l5. A valve spring lifter comprising a lifting member terminating at opposite ends thereof in a pair of` end guides, said member having means located between said guides for operating against a plurality of valve springs, and said member also having a pair of forwardly extending guides located between said end guides.

16. In a valve spring lifter, the combination of a lifting member and means for operating the same, said lifting member terminating in a pair of end guides and having intermediate said guides a pair of forwardly extending guides, said lifting member also having a pair of vertical guides to permit movement of said lifting member relatively to said operating means.

17. In a valve spring lifter, the combination of a lifting member adapted to operate against a plurality of valve springs, a cam support, a rotatable cam carried by said support, means for rotating said cam thereby to operate said lifting member, a pair of clutch disks Carried one by said cam, and one by said support, said Clutch disks having eooperating projections and recesses carried thereby.

18. In a valve spring lifter, the combination of a lifting member having` means adapted to cooperate with a plurality of valve springs, shiftable means located beneath said lifting member for elevating` the same, and means for maintaining said shiftable means in different positions during the lifting of the lifting member.

19. In a valve spring lifter, the combination of a lifting member having means adapted to cooperate with a plurality of valve springs, vsupporting means below said lifting member and shiftably connected thereto, rotatable means located between said supporting means and lifting member and operative to lift said lifting member relatively to its supporting means, and means for maintaining said rotatable mem ber in different positions during the lifting of the lifting member.

20. In a valve spring lifter, the eombination of a lifting member, a cam support, a rotatable cam Carried thereby and adapted to engage said lifting member, a pair of coaeting stop members carried by said support and cam, and a pair of eoaeting clutch members Carried by said support and Cam.

:21. In a valve spring lifter, the combination of a lifting member, a cam support, a rotatable cam carried thereby and adapted to engage said lifting member, a pair of eo-acting stop members Carried by said support and cam, a pair of eoacting clutch members Carried by said support and cam, and resilient means for maintaining said clutch members in engagement.

22. In a valve spring lifter, the combination of a lifting member, rotatable means located under said lifting member for lifting said member, means for supporting said rotatable means, stop Carried by said supporting means, and a stop carried by said rotatable means and adapted to engage opposite sides of said first stop for limiting the movement of said rotatable means in opposite directions.

Signed at New York, county and State of New York, this 26 day of December,

LOUIS MARCELLUS WOOD. 

